1990 Bonnes Mares
By Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier
1990 Bonnes Mares from Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier, Burgundy
A tapestry of complexity and elegance, the 1990 Bonnes Mares from Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier resonates with the confluence of a celebrated vintage and the masterful touch of the vintners. This Burgundy marvel, crafted in the prestigious Côte de Nuits, is a testament to a year when the stars aligned over the vineyards, manifesting into a vintage that has become quintessential in investment portfolios.
A Vintage with Distinct Charm
The 1990 growing season blessed Burgundy with ideal weather conditions, leading to well-balanced fruit maturity and superb concentration. These climatic blessings are impeccably encapsulated in this Pinot Noir expression. Over three decades have nurtured a patrician wine that commands attention with its depth and poise.
The initial bouquet enthralls with a symphony of ripe cherries, a hint of blackberry compote, seasoned elegantly with whispers of truffle and autumnal forest floor. With time and patience in the glass, the wine liberates secondary nuances of worn leather, potpourri and wet stone — a wine critic’s lexicon brought vividly to life.
The palate is met with an ensemble of mature tannins that dance deftly alongside revitalizing acidity. An interplay of dark fruits and savoury undertones leads to a lengthy finish, which lingers like the final resonant note from a Stradivarius violin.
An Exemplary Investment Grade Bottle
Investors cherish this vintage for both its exceptional quality and admirable longevity. The 1990 Bonnes Mares from Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier stands as one of those rarefied wines that marry favourable climactic conditions with judicious estate craftsmanship. It is undeniably an investment-grade bottle that will not only continue to evolve but will also gracefully uphold its storied provenance in any discerning collector's cellar.
In summation, the majestic 1990 Bonnes Mares from Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier exhibits all the attributes one seeks in a legacy wine: it is profound yet subtle, stately and brimming with vitality—the perfect candidate for those looking to enrich their collection with peerless Burgundian artistry.
Market price (HKD)
HK$151,430.00
12x75cl
Highest score
87
POP score
2262.86
Scores and tasting notes
Two bottles of the 1990 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru from Mugnier have come my way in recent weeks, both incidentally tasted blind. It has never been Mugnier's strongest card to play and indeed, he always shows his Amoureuses afterwards. Dark in color, it has a rather introspective and saturnine nose, almost opaque dark berry fruit, potpourri and mulberry, perhaps missing that sense of terroir. The palate is medium-bodied with good acidity, solid and stocky for Bonnes-Mares with a punchy, dark plum and earthy finish that needs a little more precision and terroir expression. It is not a bad Bonnes-Mares however, it attests an era when I think Mugnier was still learning his craft and it shows in this wine. Tasted August 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 October 2016